I'm having really bizarre, and bad, digital break ups on a tape shot with a Canon XL-1. I'm also having a heart attack, because said tape is part two of a short film shot 2.5 years ago and I'm trying to edit it.

My friend said to try and play it from the original XL-1; no can do, since it's long gone. Tape 1 doesn't have this problem, and the dv dubs I made two years ago seem to be fine, according to my friend.

I'm going to try playing the tape on a Sony DSR-11 or something other than a JVC camera and see what happens. I'm going to step away from the ledge now.

sorry that I haven't been around for awhile, been out of town for a year. (Jobs)
Anyway, I need some urgent info and help. I will be going on to a 2 day shoot, where they will be using the XL2.
My problem is since I will be editing it but only have a the XL1s to feed any footage to my Mac.
Will there be any problem or quality loss when playing back footage on the XL1s that was captured on the XL2?

Welcome to the boards!
You could use a UV filter, not only to protect your lens from the sunlight, but just to protect your lens. Cheaper then buying a new lens, if there is a scratch ;-)

I don't know if the 3x has any ND filters on it, maybe you should buy one seperately if not.
So you can have an (relatively) open iris in bright sunlight (so you still can have a small Depth of Field = filmic - if that is what you are looking for of course)

Also check Ebay, especially auctions that have ended. Not much of a better way to find out. Also check with dealers like B&H for used equipment. You are probably looking at $1,800 to $3,000 depending on accessories.

We're the tapes left somewhere that there were magnets?? Also, monitors can mess up tapes.

Oh, and the main thing I have found that is a tape (and all equipment) killer?? Humidity...and FL has lots of it. Right now, the humidity up here in New England is horrible. I run a de-humidifer 24/7 and keep all my tapes and equipment in the room. The ideal humidity is between 45-50%..

I've looked into matte boxes a great deal, and know quite a bit about them, but not enough about some "technical" stuff. (not technical, really; just concerns about sizing/vignetting.). What I'm wondering is if the Cavision 16x9 matte box (found on B&H for $400) and 3 filter stages will pose any problems for use on an xl1s. (any vignetting?) Because it's a 16x9 box, and I'll be shooting in 4x3, wilil there be less shade protection? I'm just thinking toward the future when I'll be upgrading to the XL2, and will have native 16x9. Oh, and does the Cavision 16x9 box use 4x4 filters, or 4x5?

I knnow all about Chrosziel, Century Optics, Petroff, etc., but have decided that Cavision is the one for me right now. But, as always, you get what you pay for.....I know......